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Country Info
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Other Sections
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AMERIKA VENTURE
inbound travel agency
& tour operator
across the Americas
since 1996
Member of
BBB, TIES & STI
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| Birding Tour in Costa Rica - 12 days - CRC |
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With only 20 000 square miles, Costa Rica comprises twelve life zones, four mountain ranges (reaching 3820 m.) and coasts on the Pacific and the Caribbean coasts. All under the tropics where the marine currents and winds meet; truly a "diversity manufacture"!
More than 830 bird species inhabit this territory where all the major groups and families are represented: the jays, thrushes & robins, pigeons, hummingbirds, woodpeckers, woodcreepers, hunters and kingfishers, ibis, egrets and herons, toucans, macaws and motmots, boobies, petrels and terns, orioles, warblers & tanagers, the resplendent quetzal, the magnificent frigates... the "Tree Wattled Bell Bird" you say?
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From the capital to the coasts, through high mountains and most ecosystems in the nation, come see and hear the birds of Costa Rica on an adaptable journey
of encounters and cultural discoveries!
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Detailed Itinerary
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I received replies in a very timely manner from all of the agencies I contacted. After asking them for more detailed information we decided to go with Amerik Aventure. Our contact person was Mark, and he could not have been more helpful. He answered all our questions very quickly, set up the tour according to all our requests and made helpful suggestions which made things go even more smoothly.
Our birding guide was excelent! We could not have asked for someone more knowledgeable, more personable, or more fluent in English. We were also very happy with our driver.
Anyone in our group would not hesitate to use Amerika Venture to plan another trip.
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- Bert Hensel , USA
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Day 1. San Jose > Liberia
We welcome you at the San Jose international airport or we pick you up at your hotel if you are already in Costa Rica. Domestic flight towards Liberia, transfer to your inn where you will meet your guide and travel companions for dinner. Overnight in a comfortable and charming 3* inn.
NB: If your international flight arrives in San Jose after 14h00, you will have to arrive the day before in San Jose. We offer you the transfer from the airport and one extra hotel night in San Jose for 70$ per couple or single traveler.
Day 2. Liberia > Rincon de la Vieja
Early morning filling breakfast, transfer to the Rincon de la Vieja National Park, a magnificent natural environment; one of the best birding spots in Costa Rica (we will make a few birding stops on the way). Exploration of the national park. Transfer to our charming and very comfortable ranch-inn around 13h00. Buffet lunch and relaxation. Optional trips are offered in the afternoon, among which horseback rides to the region's waterfalls and birding walks with your guide.
Among the many birds that can be observed here we find the Gray Hawk and the Broad-winged Hawk, the White-throated Magpie Jay, the Squirrel Cuckoo, the Blue-Crowned Motmot, the Emerald Toucanet, the Blue Crowned Euphonia, the Elegant Euphonia, the Black Guan, the Crested Guan, the Plain Chachalaca and many more...
Day 3. Rincon de la Vieja > Monteverde.
Early morning birding walk with your guide around the inn, a perfect site for bird observation. Buffet breakfast at your inn. On the road to Santa Elena in the Monteverde region we will make a few stops to allow some birding on the way. Installation in a charming and comfortable inn of the beautiful region.
Among the many birds that can be observed here we find many of those who can be seen in Rincon de la Vieja plus the Resplendent Quetzal, the Orange Billed Trogon and the Collared Trogon, the Magnificent Hummingbird, the Violet Saberwing, the Three-wattled Bellbird, the Silvery-throated Jay, the Sulfur-winged Parakeet and many more...
Day 4. Arenal Volcano
Early departure towards the active Arenal Volcano driving around the scenic Arenal Lake or on horseback through the farmland and slopes of the Arenal-Monteverde zone (both options are offered). In this area you can observe many of the species present in Monteverde and in Selva Verde (describe later in this day by day). Those who will travel by road will have the possibility to do some birding on the way... Those going on horseback will cross the lake on a motorized passenger boat and meet the rest of the group at the Arenal dam near the foot of the Volcano, minutes away from our hotel and the Tabaccon Hotsprings. Stay in a charming and very comfortable inn located at a safe distance on the slopes of the volcano. Optional visit to the Tabaccon hotspings in the evening
Day 5. Selva Verde
Early birding tour on the volcano slopes. After breakfast at the hotel we are on our way to the private reserve of Selva Verde. Lunch at the the Selva Verde Lodge's restaurant and introduction to the private reserve protecting 180 hectares of primary forest and 300 hectares of secondary tropical rainforest. Guided exploration on the forest trails. Selva Verde is a rainforest lodge dedicated to educating its guests on the wonders and natural beauty of Costa Rica's unique and fragile tropical rainforest. Beyond its roughly 500 acres of preserved rainforest, the lodge offers the services of resident naturalist guides and an ever-expanding reference library. It provides ample accommodations equipped with private baths and showers. The very well maintained rooms open into large and spacious wooden balconies.
Among the many birds one can observe here we find the Collared Aracari, the Slaty-tailed Trogon, the Great Blue Heron, the Ringed Kinfisher, the Anhiga, the Boat-billed Heron, the Chestnut Mandibled Toucan, the Tiger Heron, the Rufous tailed Motmot, the Scarlet Macaw and a lot more... .
Day 6. Selva Verde > San Jose
Early birding tour in the reserve. Filling breakfast and drive towards the capital. Guided exploration of the capital where interesting birding can be done and interesting visits are proposed. Stay in a charming inn located near all the services in a quiet neighbourhood.
Day 7. San Jose > Domestic flight > Corcovado
Early departure towards Sirena, the ranger station located in the heart of the Corcovado National Park. Guided exploration of the national park, birding and wildlife watching. You can observe here nearly 400 bird species among which the Scarlet Macaw, the Mealy and Red-lored Parrots, the Violacecous and Baird's Trogons, the Fiery-billed Aracari, the Chestnut mandibled Toucan, the Turquoise Cotinga, the Osprey, the Yellow headed Caracara, the King Vulture, the Great Tinamou...
Transfer by boat in the afternoon to Drake Bay, installation in a charming and comfortable ecolodge on the coast.
Day 8. Drake Bay
Early birding tour. Filling breakfast and relaxation in the lodge
OR optional boat tour to the island Isla Del Cano for birding from the boat around the island and/or scuba diving / snorkelling in one of the most interesting dive sites of Costa Rica. Overnight as night before in a charming and comfortable lodge of Drake Bay.
Day 9. Drake Bay > Sierpe River > San Isidro
After breakfast we will cruise towards the village of Sierpe on the Sierpe River on which we will have the opportunity to observe the avifauna of this particular waterway environment. Here we find the Great Blue and the Little Blue Herons, the Green Heron and the Tiger Heron, the Great Egret, the Brown Pelican, the Magnificent Frigate, the Lineated Woodpecker, the Brown Booby, the Belted Kingfisher and lots more...
Once in Sierpe we will drive towards Cerro de la Muerte, the highest point on our itinerary at 3500 meters (11 500 feet) above sea level. We probably wont have time to enjoy the scenery and wildlife of the area today so we will transfer directly to our lodge for a good hot meal and restful and comfortable night.
Day 10. Cerro de la Muerte
Early birding on the lodge's premises though the extensive nature trail system. Filling breakfast at the lodge. More birding and wildlife observation after breakfast in the Tapanti National Park. In this area we can observe the high elevation birds of the country such as the Magnificient Hummingbird, the Magnificient Quetzal, the Orange-bellied Trogon, the Emerald Toucanet, the Blue-Crowned Chlorophonia, the Green Violet-ear... Lunch in the area and down the mountains we go towards the capital where we will enjoy a relaxing afternoon and evening in a charming inn located near all the services in a quiet neighbourhood.
Day 11. San Jose and Poas
After breakfast we will be heading off towards the Poas Volcano National Park. Exploration of the volcano's area covered with a cloud forest, habitat to an important passerine avifauna. Lunch on the way back in an excellent family run restaurant on the volcano slopes and brief stop in a coffee plantation to learn more on the process of coffee farming and maybe purchase some Costa Rican coffee before our return home. We could also visit today the Carara National Park where the dry and the humid forest meet, home to a very diverse fauna. The exact program of the day will be discussed in group. Our last dinner together will be served in one of the best restaurants in the country. Night in the same hotel.
Day 12. Airport transfer OR continuation onto Tortuguero tour
Today we will transfer you to the airport or to any location within the capital area. If you decide to continue to Tortuguero, you will be met very early at the hotel reception to be transferred to Matina, from where you will embark on a river cruise towards the Tortuguero National Park.
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A few names of hotels used on this tour: Parque Del Lago or Grano de Oro (San Jose), Hacienda Guachipelin (Rincon de la Vieja), Trogon Lodge (Cerro de la Muerte area).
Accommodations on this tour are very comfortable and charming. Rooms are large with two beds, private bathroom, air conditionning and/or ceiling fan (some cool areas do not need air conditionning) and most of the time rooms offer a very nice view and direct access to a beautiful garden to stroll through in the morning or afternoon and the lodge/ hotel often has a pool. This tour is designed for (and booked by) travellers in the 45 to 65 age range, sometimes older, seldom younger.
This is an easy tour program, although very comprehensive, with lots of sites and regions on the schedule.
This tour adapts to the rhythm of slower walkers as all morning hikes are very slow paced and local (near the lodge / hotel) and for the other more intensive hikes (still easy ones but longer ones) we split the group (when required) with slower paced travellers going with our local guide and faster paced travellers going with the main tour leader (or vice versa). There's always an option to adapt the rhythm of the day's activities to the traveller's own cadence.
We operate small group tours and dedicate ourselves to offering you highly personalized, responsive & flexible
travel & tours services year round!
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All our services in Costa Rica . . .
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Highlights of this trip:
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- Airport to airport service;
- Exploration of most ecosystems in Costa Rica;
- One of the best birding guides in the country accompanies you throughout the tour;
- Flexible and adaptable program;
- All inclusive except international flights;
- Tasty and healthy filling meals;
- Domestic flights included easing the exploration of the country, other transports in private mini-bus;
- Charming and comfortable lodging, very clean and welcoming places, private bathrooms;
- Comprehensive and up to date pre-departure documentation.
- Toll free top quality clientele service.
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Exclusions
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- Excellent birding guide throughout the Journey;
- Lodgings in charming and very comfortable hotels, eco-lodges and inns;
- All transports in a modern and private minibus;
- All the activities and entry fees;
- Two domestic (internal) flights;
- All the meals served in hotels, inns & restaurants (full board);
- Detailed and very complete Traveler's File;
- Toll free & responsive clientele service.
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| Rates $US 2008 starting from: |
Coming departures: |
2695 / pers. in double occ.
+ 395 / pers. in single occ. |
| 2009 : |
JAN 03, JAN 10, JAN 17, JAN 24, JAN 31, FEB 07, FEB 14, FEB 21, FEB 28, MAR 07, MAR 14, MAR 21, MAR 28, JUL 18, JUL 25 |
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Click on a date to book or propose a new departure |
| For all our tours' DATES & PRICES please Click here |
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Prices DO NOT include international flights, please CONTACT US for an estimate.
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Comparing our tours and prices with others, consider...
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- The number of participants in the tour. The GROUP SIZE has a major incidence on the quality of the services provided by the tour leader and the driver. Small groups remain personal unlike large groups.
- What IS and what is NOT respectively included in the tours you compare.
- Our tours respect the principals of ecotourism. Our guides, staff members and providers are meticulously selected to meet our exacting requirements and standards and they are remunerated equitably and considered with great esteem as we much value their participation to our mission.
- The quality standard of the services and accommodations we provide in our tours is high and our customer service is exceptional. We are committed to offering the very best to our travellers before, during and after their tour.
- We provide our travellers with the contact information of their tour manager who is available 7 days a week, reachable at all time before and during the tour to promptly assist them with any situation or simply answer questions or doubts before the tour starts.
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Tours & Destinations
